merkl



{No Model.)

J. B. MERKL.

VIBRATING PROPELLER.

Patented Jan. 9

N. PETERS. Fnuln-Lilhograpber. Washing'om n. c.

mcnt.

recs.

JOHANN. B. MERKL, 0F BERLIN, GERMANY.

VIBBATING PRCPELLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part bf Letters Patent No. 270,455, dated January 9, 1883.

Application filed June 29, 1881. (No model.) Patented in Germany August 5, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOHANN BENEDICT MERKL, a subject of the Kingdom of Bavaria,

residing at the city of Berlin, in the Kingdotn of Prussia and German Empire, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Propelling Steamships, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in mechanism for propelling steamships, and is intended to supersede the paddle-wheel and screw at present employed.

The chief point of my invention consists in the etnpoyment of flap-paddles made of iron or other suitable material, which said paddles may he fitted to the ship in various manners, as later on described.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings is a side view of a. ship on which four flap-paddles are arranged on each side at the extremities of the middle third portion of the shipslength. The paddles are arranged in such a manner that. when half their number are working with closed fiaps the other half are working with open fiaps, thus assuring a steady and regular motion of the vessel without any slip or lost power, as is the case with the screw or paddlewheel. The paddles can also be fitted to the rear of the ship instead of in the middle, or two or four paddles can be fitted t0 the stern ofthe ship. For sea-going vessels it is necessary to arrange the fiap-paddles in the interior ot'the ship in a suitable space provided for the same. I do not, however, bind myself to any particular way of attaching thepaddles to the ship. As shown in 'the drawings, an

oscillating motion is imparted to these paddles by means of connection-rods, which are themselves setin motion by cranks fixed to the main shaft of the engine or motor situated within the ship.

Figs. 2 and 3 show the reversing arrange- The flaps a are fixed to a two or three pronged fork, the end of which forms a socket, and is provided with a tooth-wheel, (Z. By means of the socket c the paddles work or turn on the arm eot'the leverf, which said lever turns on the shaft or axle h by means of the bouch g. This shaft or axle It works in bearings 'i, which are fixed in a suitable bracket fixed to the side of the ship. A rack, is, is arranged to slide in a slotot' the shaft or axle h, and in this said rack the tooth-wheei d works. The connecting or draft rod 122 operates on the arm of the lever f and imparts an oscillating motion to the same. In orderto reverse the course of the ship, the paddles must be turned round on their axles. This is effected by the above-described mechanism, and in the following manner: By means of a lever which operates on the boss i the necessary sideward impulse is given to the rack is, and this causes a revolution of the tooth-wheel d, and thus the paddles are reversed and the ship at once is put about and moves in the opposite direction to the previous course.

Figs. 4 and 5 show one method of hanging or attaching the flaps onto the forks. The flaps are provided at their extremities with fingers or pivots, which work in correspoiuling bosses on the forks. The fingers or pivots are arranged so that they serve to strengthen the fork of the paddle by causing the fingers of the one flap to enter the boss from right to left and the fingers or pivot of the next fia-p to enter the boss from left to right.

The forks and those parts of the fittings which work against the water are tapered off, soas to present the least possible resistance to the water.

Having now described my said invention, I desire it to be understood that do not confine myself to the number ofpaddles. to be em ployed, nor to the details of construction, as these can be modified without departing from the tenor of my invention but What I claim, and desire to have protected by Letters Patent, is-

1. In combination with the hull of a vessel, a. series of fiat paddles having fiaps or shutters hinged thereto, such paddles having a movement substantially parallel to the course of the vessel,and having means for imparting to it a rotary movement, substantially as described.

2. Oombined with the hull of a vessel, a series of paddles pivoted in bearings'therein, and com posed ofa rigid fra me. adapted, when in operation, to move substantially in line with the motion of the vessel, and a. number of hinged wings or shutters, and also in combination with the gear-wheel (Z and the rack bar k, whereby it is given a rotary movement, substantially as described.

'. JOHANN BENEDICT MERKL.

\Vitncsses:

EDWIN A. BRYDGES, WILHELM Voer. 

